Friday, December 28, 2007

One thing I forgot to mention in my last post -- Sweetielicious Pie Pantry! It's a wonderful bakery in DeWitt, Michigan! Lots of terrific retro, which I thought some of you might appreciate...

Yesterday I met my pal Judy there for a belated holiday swap. It was the perfect site, as you can see from the retro-Santa and all the other nifty fifties things!

AND, the best pies I've had that weren't made by serious pie-making friends! HUGE cookies (I didn't indulge but I wanted to) and a great menu. (OK, yesterday I passed on the pie for a steaming hot chocolate, because I just knew if I started, I'd never stop!)

Waiting for the new year... what does this one bring? Last year brought trips to Dallas, Norfolk, Myrtle Beach and Ontario; lots of good books; "Mack and Mabel" at Shaw Festival; fun at the lake; Kevin's graduation; visiting him at Northern Michigan University; an exciting project on World War II at WKAR; two surgeries that turned out OK; (finally) starting to lose weight, and so much more...

Thursday, December 27, 2007

So, what's the best thing to do the day after Christmas? Spend it with a good friend at her art studio, making art!

I went over to my good buddy Kate's studio -- She is an amazing artist -- I think she can do anything from paint magical cats to run her own graphic design firm to do extraordinary beadwork to you name it!

Look at what she did with her walls! It totally reflects her, with her art on the walls! It's filled with light -- perfect for creation!

I love how she made small canvases to hang on the pegboard. She has a huge canvas collage in her hall -- she said she turns them different ways on different days, but I found the pattern (or lack thereof!) is always art in itself.

We started by felting beads. I have a new-found respect for felted beadmakers. We worked hard for about a half-hour and came up with three beads apiece -- and not all that great, as beads go! I may give it another try, but don't hold great hope that this will be my favorite new art form!

The sun was out, it was about 50, and we couldn't let a day like that pass without celebrating the sun and seizing the day! Kate described the sun as the "unexpected guest at our table" -- so we took the table outside (you just don't do that in Michigan in December!) and "tailgated" in the driveway, enjoying roasted red pepper soup, terrific foccacia, wine and leftover raspberry trifle for dessert. Yum! We stayed out for a couple of hours, just savoring the sun and friendship!

But work awaited! For Kate it was painting papers with a technique to make them appear transluscent. They will become beads in their next life. (Paper beads, Kate believes, will be better than the felted ones!).

I painted, prepping a couple of canvases (you must remember, I don't paint as such, so this made me feel brave) and making a collage which is yet to be finished!

What a lovely time we enjoyed over the holidays! We did all our favorite traditions and foods. Roast on Christmas Eve (followed by "A Christmas Story," an annual TV ritual!

Greg arrived around 10, and we immediately set him off on decorating the tree -- we had saved his ornaments and a few others, so he could join in, even though he missed the original trimming (and straightening) of the tree!

Cookie decorating was next -- we do this every Christmas Eve! It's been fun to watch the kids' cookies become more sophisticated. (Especially Kevin, who use to find cookie decorating the best occasion for seeing how many he could overload with frosting and eat! Now he's really making some nice cookies!

Christmas day was filled with presents, our annual breakfast (a breakfast casserole -- so easy to put in the oven while present-opening is going on!) and "Reindeer Games" -- a dice game where we have fun presents we get with doubles (or trading and swapping!).

The kids were so grown up this year, with real thought into their gifts and for once everyone seemed to get the perfect gift from someone (or someones plural!)

After the kids left for their mom's, Rick and I enjoyed yet another Christmas dinner ourselves, joined later by our friend Richard. It was a beautiful day.

My favorite moment? When Rick and the boys went down the street to take their eighth-grade English teacher some Christmas candy. He was surprised, I think, to see these young men, 19 and 21, on their new paths.

What a a perfect day (actually, a perfect two days -- and we won't even talk about hitting Coldwater Creek's sale on Christmas Eve!!!)

What a magical time of year! Do you remember your visits to Santa? What a magical old fellow he was! I hope he's already checked his lists -- I'm still working on mine!

Last night we got Rick's tree -- Kevin will be there tonight to decorate, but we're going to hold out Greg's ornaments so he can put them on when he gets home on Christmas Eve. It seems like we see less and less of them, now that they're older and they split times between families.

This morning I've been wrapping presents and soon will do some deliveries! Stopped into the office to make a quick holiday greeting to you all. Then I have to regroup to find a couple more gifts and get back home. The bronchitis has set in, but I'm on the Z-pac and they say those work well. It's not too bad, but I figure I'd best do what I can while I'm up to it! I don't have time to be mellow right now!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Not a creature was stirring... this is the late, great Mr. Stimpy -- Christmas Cat Extraordinaire! Every year at Christmas we miss him more and more! But even now, when Gypsy goes racing through the house for no apparent reason, I know he's probably chasing The Phantom Stimpy, who haunts us in all the best ways!

So, here's to a holiday where we can look at the ice (if we get any) and not fall on it again!

And here's the the idea of a "White Christmas." It's about the only time of year I like snow! And if it's as white as our last weekend -- we won't see green for months to come!

Thank you, new friends, for visiting and commenting on my blog! I'm still figuring out how to "comment back" and maybe I can do it on the blog. Still lots to learn, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it, especially meeting my friends' friends!

Special thanks to Shelley and Rosemary for welcoming me on their blogs!

I will be including links to their blogs and some other great sites as I get more time to work on this -- so keep coming back!

Having said this, this may be my last post until after Christmas, though if the wrapping and few gifts I have to make yet get finished (not to mention baking a couple more batches of cookies to share with friends!), I may sneak in to the office and play!

This is the tree in the living room. It sort of tells my family story, with a combination of ornaments from the family tree, photo ornaments, gifts from friends, things I've chosen just because they fit, and all the ones I've made over the years! Don't forget the travel souvenirs, too!

Here's another fast, easy, yummy recipe that gets good reviews from everyone -- it's one of Kevin's favorites!

Jeanie Crostini

Cut one thin baguette into small slices on the diagonal and line-up on a parchment covered baking sheet. (Use parchment only to keep it neater for clean-up!)

Mix about 1/2 c. olive oil (or more -- you can add as you go along) with dried herbs. I use basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary or herbs de Provence, along with some red pepper flakes and BIT of salt (not much). You can use what you like or have. Garlic or garlic powder is also good.

Spread onto bread and top with shredded Parmesan cheese. (I like Sargento -- you don't need to use "the good stuff."

Bake at 300 for about 15-18 minutes, but you may need to go a bit longer. It should get slightly browned but not burned.

This is extremely good with seven-grain or multigrain baguettes, but also good with French bread.

Serve with spreads, tapenades, or just enjoy! Leftovers make great croutons.

Guess what! Jeanie has a blog, named in honor of the marmelade cat, Gypsy Rose. (The Orange Gypsy was already taken!)

So, what's this blog going to be about? In no particular order, a place to post my art and share with my online art buddies, a spot to talk cooking and entertaining -- which of course means sharing recipes and other yummy things -- and of course, a spot to share bits and piece of my life -- family, friends, work, and all that other cool stuff!

And I promise to add some cool links as I work along!

Am I finally getting with the 21st century of online communications? We'll see!

About Gypsy!

The Marmelade Gypsy was a big orange cat who happened into my life when he was abandoned long ago and took up residence in the window well. Within a few months, he had moved inside the house and took up residence inside my heart (and on the couch, in the window, on the bed...) He was one sweet boy, the ultimate cat who served as pet therapist, executive assistant and secret keeper. He will always hold a huge spot in my heart. Goodbye, Mr. Gyps.

Happy Together!

Every step of the way I will walk with you and never leave you stranded. -- Rumi

Lizzie Cosette

Lizzie Cosette may be neither marmelade nor a gypsy, but she is indeed a "Marmee," as the March sisters in "Little Women" referred to their mother. Found in an abandoned garage with three kittens, she was fostered until she found a new home and human to love her.

The Cotswolds

What's not to love?

My Happy Place

Sunset at Otsego Lake

About Me

I live with the guiding principles of joy, compassion, fun, friendship, family, love, creativity and happiness. I love sharing my art, my family history, my world and equally enjoy hearing about yours.